What You Think About At Night

I think of you through the watches of the night. Psalm 63:6

Has it ever struck you that what we think about at night is an indicator of who we are? Somehow the night has a knack of stripping away bravado, tearing the pajamas off false confidences. It leaves our minds naked and, when our clever defenses are asleep, our true thoughts emerge. When we let the sun go down on our unresolved items, they become poking sticks in the hands of the night watchmen. That’s the bad news. 

The good news is this: God is not sleeping while we sleep. He is active on our behalf, and sometimes he is active in our minds, our spirits, and our hearts even as we sleep. He gives us dreams that speak warning or encouragement to us. He uses the symbolism of things to steel us against danger, distractions, or discouragement.

God also inhabits our waking moments with solutions to problems. I used to wake up and go from 0 to 60 mph in a few seconds; now I try to lie in bed a few extra moments, listening for the whispers of God in the morning mist. If this sounds vague to you, it is. But I often find that the answer to something I have been contemplating pops into my mind just as I am waking. Sometimes it has even been in a dream that I need to recall. 

I don’t go to bed with a To-Do list to dream about: that would be counterproductive. I don’t even keep a notebook next to my bed to write down brilliant ideas—I keep earplugs in my ears and a mask over my eyes to stop brilliant ideas. Nonetheless, God has a way of sneaking through, and I relate to what the psalmist says, “I think of you through the watches of the night.” 

What we think about at night starts with what we do during the day. We cannot be lovers by night and laggards by day. 

God—you're my God! I can't get enough of you! I've worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts.  So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory. In your generous love I am really living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains. I bless you every time I take a breath; my arms wave like banners of praise to you. I eat my fill of prime rib and gravy; I smack my lips. It's time to shout praises! If I'm sleepless at midnight, I spend the hours in grateful reflection. (The Message – Psalm 63:1-6)

Start your night today.

Reflections

• What do you think about at night?
• How can you change that by day?